WebOS had a strong contingent of hardcore fans who swore it was the best mobile operating system. Those fans will surely be disappointed as the platform inches closer to its final resting place. (Source: Gizmodo)

Hewlett-Packard continues to drive the remains of Palm into the ground

A spokesperson for the company comments, "As communicated on August 18, HP
will discontinue the development of webOS devices within the fourth quarter of
fiscal year 2011, which ends Oct 31 2011. As part of this decision, the webOS
GBU [general business unit] is undergoing a reduction in workforce. Today’s
actions are part of this initiative. During this time, we stand by our
commitment to our webOS customers and will work to ensure that support and
service for customers are not adversely affected. HP is exploring ways to
leverage webOS software."

It pulled its TouchPad tablet after less than seven weeks on the market,
to webOS fans' dismay. While HP insists that it may still use webOS in
other applications (such as printers), the prospects of webOS continuing to be
a serious mobile device operating system look bleak given the staff cuts and
internal reports that development on the platform is grinding to a halt.

HP recently announced plans to spin off its PC business, the Personal Systems
Group (PSG). When that happens, there's a slim chance there could be a webOS
revival. Alternatively, the PSG (the HP unit responsible for mobile
devices, personal computers, etc.) may opt to adopt a third party operating
system, such as Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows Phone 7 or Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system.

A sale of webOS remains a possibility, as well, should a player like Google
express enough interest.

Many shareholders are quite upset about HP's decision to kill webOS and spin
off their PC business. A consortium of top shareholders have filed suit and are seeking class
action status, claiming Mr. Apotheker deceived shareholders by failing to
disclose plans of the radical changes in advance. As a result, the
shareholders argue, HP's stock price was artificially inflated.

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The Kobayashi Maru is a famous test in the fictional universe of Star Trek. It is a Starfleet training exercise designed to test the character of cadets in the command track at Starfleet Academy. The mission is to rescue the civilian vessel Kobayashi Maru, a disabled ship, on the wrong side of the Klingon Neutral Zone. The approaching cadet crew must decide whether or not to attempt rescue of the Kobayashi Maru crew – endangering their own ship and lives, and possibly starting a war – or leave the Kobayashi Maru to certain destruction. "there is no correct resolution, it is a test of character."

Stardate: Last October. Cadet Leo Apotheker, former exec from the lawsuit riddled SAP takes over the Starship HP, which has spent $2B on a phone and tablet bid to take on Apple with the avowed goal of becoming #2 in the i-market. You do a big show to launch the Touchpad and Pre, but fail to take the market in 2 months. The Klingons (Apple) have fallen in behind the Romulans (Droid) and have you surrounded, cut off, and are ready to eat your customers. His response? Separate the Saucer section (HP's PC Group), ram it into the Kobayashi Maru (the webOS/Touchpad), and run for the border with the main body of the ship. Oh yeah, and blow $10B (x4-16 its value) on Autonomy in a bid to become #2 behind SAP, as a smokescreen.